arXiv subjects

J. B. Kogut

Publications and source records attributed to J. B. Kogut.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Lattice Gauge Theory and (Quasi)-Conformal Technicolor

QCD with 2 flavours of massless colour-sextet quarks is studied as a theory which might exhibit a range of scales over which the running coupling constant evolves very slowly (walks). We simulate lattice QCD with 2 flavours of sextet staggered quarks to determine whether walks, or if it has an infrared fixed point, making it a conformal field theory. Our initial simulations are performed at finite temperatures $T=1/N_ta$ ($N_t=4$ and $N_t=6$), which allows us to identify the scales of confinement and chiral-symmetry breaking from the deconfinement and chiral-symmetry restoring transitions. Unlike QCD with fundamental quarks, these two transitions appear to be well-separated. The change in coupling constants at these transitions between the two different temporal extents $N_t$, is consistent with these being finite temperature transitions for an asymptotically free theory, which favours walking behaviour. In the deconfined phase, the Wilson Line shows a 3-state signal. Between the confinement and chiral transitions, there is an additional transition where the states with Wilson Lines oriented in the directions of the complex cube roots of unity disorder into a state with a negative Wilson Line.

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arXiv2010

Thermodynamics of lattice QCD with 2 flavours of colour-sextet quarks: A model of walking/conformal Technicolor

QCD with two flavours of massless colour-sextet quarks is considered as a model for conformal/walking Technicolor. If this theory possess an infrared fixed point, as indicated by 2-loop perturbation theory, it is a conformal(unparticle) field theory. If, on the other hand, a chiral condensate forms on the weak-coupling side of this would-be fixed point, the theory remains confining. The only difference between such a theory and regular QCD is that there is a range of momentum scales over which the coupling constant runs very slowly (walks). In this first analysis, we simulate the lattice version of QCD with two flavours of staggered quarks at finite temperatures on lattices of temporal extent $N_t=4$ and 6. The deconfinement and chiral-symmetry restoration couplings give us a measure of the scales associated with confinement and chiral-symmetry breaking. We find that, in contrast to what is seen with fundamental quarks, these transition couplings are very different. $β=6/g^2$ for each of these transitions increases significantly from $N_t=4$ and $N_t=6$ as expected for the finite temperature transitions of an asymptotically-free theory. This suggests a walking rather than a conformal behaviour, in contrast to what is observed with Wilson quarks. In contrast to what is found for fundamental quarks, the deconfined phase exhibits states in which the Polyakov loop is oriented in the directions of all three cube roots of unity. At very weak coupling the states with complex Polyakov loops undergo a transition to a state with a real, negative Polyakov loop.

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arXiv2009

QCD thermodynamics with colour-sextet quarks

We study QCD with two flavours of colour-sextet quarks as a candidate walking-Technicolor theory. We simulate lattice QCD with two flavours of colour-sextet staggered quarks at finite temperatures to observe the scales of confinement and chiral-symmetry breaking. These should give us some indication as to whether the massless theory has an infrared fixed point making it a conformal field theory, or whether it exhibits confinement and chiral symmetry breaking with a slowly varying coupling constant, i.e. `walks'. We find that unlike the case with fundamental quarks, the deconfinement and chiral-symmetry restoration transitions are far apart. The values of $β=6/g^2$ for both transitions increase when $Ta$ is decreased from 1/4 to 1/6 as would be expected for finite temperature transitions of an asymptotically-free field theory. So far we see no suggestion of conformal behaviour.

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arXiv2008

Lattice QCD at finite temperature and density in the phase-quenched approximation

QCD at a finite quark-number chemical potential $μ$ has a complex fermion determinant, which precludes its study by standard lattice QCD simulations. We therefore simulate lattice QCD at finite $μ$ in the phase-quenched approximation, replacing the fermion determinant with its magnitude. These simulations are used to study the finite temperature transition for small $μ$,where the position and nature of this transition are expected to be unchanged by this approximation. We look for the expected critical endpoint for 3-flavour QCD. Here, it had been argued that the critical point at zero $μ$ would become the critical endpoint at small $μ$, for quark masses just above the critical mass. Our simulations indicate that this does not happen, and there is no such critical endpoint for small $μ$. We discuss how we might adapt techniques used for imaginary $μ$ to improve the signal/noise ratio and strengthen our conclusions, using results from relatively low statistics studies.

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arXiv2007

Phase Quenched Lattice QCD at Finite Density and Temperature

We simulate 3-flavour lattice QCD at finite quark-number chemical potential mu in the phase-quenched approximation, close to the finite temperature transition. Working close to the critical quark mass, we find no evidence for the expected critical endpoint at small mu. We are performing further simulations aimed at calculating the equation-of-state of this theory outside of the superfluid domain, where its phase structure is expected to mimic the full theory.

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arXiv2006

Searching for the elusive critical endpoint at finite temperature and isospin density

We consider 3-flavour lattice QCD with a finite chemical potential mu_I for isospin, close to the finite temperature transition from hadronic matter to a quark-gluon plasma. In this region one can argue that the position and probably the nature of this transition mimic those at finite quark-number chemical potential mu. The quark mass is chosen to be close to the critical mass at zero chemical potentials. Since the Binder cumulants used to determine the nature of this transition in HMD(R) simulations are very sensitive to the updating increment dt, we have switched to the newer exact RHMC algorithm for our simulations. Preliminary results indicate that there is no critical endpoint in the small mu_I regime, at least none connected with the critical point at zero chemical potentials.

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arXiv2006

The RHMC algorithm for theories with unknown spectral bounds

The Rational Hybrid Monte Carlo (RHMC) algorithm extends the Hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm for lattice QCD simulations to situations involving fractional powers of the determinant of the quadratic Dirac operator. This avoids the updating increment ($dt$) dependence of observables which plagues the Hybrid Molecular-dynamics (HMD) method. The RHMC algorithm uses rational approximations to fractional powers of the quadratic Dirac operator. Such approximations are only available when positive upper and lower bounds to the operator's spectrum are known. We apply the RHMC algorithm to simulations of 2 theories for which a positive lower spectral bound is unknown: lattice QCD with staggered quarks at finite isospin chemical potential and lattice QCD with massless staggered quarks and chiral 4-fermion interactions ($χ$QCD). A choice of lower bound is made in each case, and the properties of the RHMC simulations these define are studied. Justification of our choices of lower bounds is made by comparing measurements with those from HMD simulations, and by comparing different choices of lower bounds.

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arXiv2006

Evidence for O(2) universality at the finite temperature transition for lattice QCD with 2 flavours of massless staggered quarks

We simulate lattice QCD with 2 flavours of massless quarks on lattices of temporal extent N_t=8, to study the finite temperature transition from hadronic matter to a quark-gluon plasma. A modified action which incorporates an irrelevant chiral 4-fermion interaction is used, which allows simulations at zero quark mass. We obtain excellent fits of the chiral condensates to the magnetizations of a 3-dimensional O(2) spin model on lattices small enough to model the finite size effects. This gives predictions for correlation lengths and chiral susceptibilities from the corresponding spin-model quantities. These are in good agreement with our measurements over the relevant range of parameters. Binder cumulants are measured, but the errors are too large to draw definite conclusions. From the properties of the O(2) spin model on the relatively small lattices with which we fit our `data', we can see why earlier attempts to fit staggered lattice data to leading-order infinite-volume scaling functions, as well as finite size scaling studies, failed and led to erroneous conclusions.

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arXiv2006

Quantization and simulation of Born-Infeld non-linear electrodynamics on a lattice

Born-Infeld non-linear electrodynamics arises naturally as a field theory description of the dynamics of strings and branes. Most analyses of this theory have been limited to studying it as a classical field theory. We quantize this theory on a Euclidean 4-dimensional space-time lattice and determine its properties using Monte-Carlo simulations. The electromagnetic field around a static point charge is measured using Luscher-Weisz methods to overcome the sign problem associated with the introduction of this charge. The D field appears identical to that of Maxwell QED. However, the E field is enhanced by quantum fluctuations, while still showing the short distance screening observed in the classical theory. In addition, whereas for the classical theory, the screening increases without bound as the non-linearity increases, the quantum theory approaches a limiting conformal field theory.

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arXiv2005

3-flavour lattice QCD at finite density and temperature: QCD at finite isospin density revisited

We simulate 3-flavour lattice QCD at finite temperature and isospin chemical potential $μ_I$. In particular we study the nature of the finite temperature transition for quark masses close to the critical mass at which this transition for zero chemical potentials changes from a first order transition to a crossover. We find that the Binder cumulants, used to determine the position of this transition, have very strong dt dependence. This leads us to an estimate of the critical mass which is about 20% below previous estimates. In addition, when this dt dependence is taken into account, we find that the Binder cumulants show very little dependence on mu_I. From this we conclude that we do not as yet see any evidence for the expected critical endpoint. We have argued previously that the position and nature of the finite temperature transition for small mu_I should be the same as that for small quark-number chemical potential mu.

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arXiv2005

Lattice simulations of Born-Infeld non-linear QED

Born-Infeld non-linear electrodynamics was introduced to render the self energy of a point particle finite. It has recently been revived as a field theory for branes and strings. We quantize this theory on a Euclidean space-time lattice, using Metropolis Monte-Carlo simulations to measure the properties of the quantum field theory. Luscher-Weisz methods are used to measure the electromagnetic fields from a static point charge. The D field from a point charge appears to be identical to that for the normal Maxwell Lagrangian. The E field is enhanced by quantum fluctuations, and shows short distance screening as it does in the classical theory.

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arXiv2005

Finite dt dependence of the Binder cumulants for 3-flavor QCD at finite temperature and isospin density

We simulate 3-flavour lattice QCD at small isospin chemical potential $μ_I$ and finite temperature $T$. At $μ_I=0$ there is a critical mass $m_c$ where the finite-temperature transition changes from first order to a crossover. We measure the $μ_I$ dependence of the transition $β$ ($β_c$) for $m$ close to $m_c$. $β_c$ and hence $T_c$ decrease slowly with increasing $μ_I$. $β_c$ at finite $μ_I$ is in good agreement $β_c$ at finite $μ$ (quark-number chemical potential). We use fourth-order Binder cumulants to determine the nature of this transition and to search for a critical endpoint. We measure the $dt$ dependence of these cumulants and extrapolate to $dt=0$. ($dt$ is the `time' increment used in the hybrid molecular-dynamics simulations.) Preliminary measurements of these Binder cumulants show little $μ_I$ dependence. (Simulations at imaginary $μ$ indicate that the $μ$ dependence of the Binder cumulants is also weak.) This contrasts to the $μ_I$ dependence we observed at fixed $dt$.

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arXiv2004

Non-compact QED(3) coupled to a four-fermi interaction

We present preliminary numerical results for the three dimensional non-compact QED with a weak four-fermion term in the lattice action. Approaches based on Schwinger-Dyson studies, arguments based on thermodynamic inequalities and numerical simulations lead to estimates of the critical number of fermion flavors (below which chiral symmetry is broken) ranging from $N_{fc}=1$ to $N_{fc}=4$. The weak four-fermion coupling provides the framework for an improved algorithm, which allows us to simulate the chiral limit of massless fermions and expose delicate effects.

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arXiv2004

Simulating lattice QCD at finite temperature and zero quark mass

We simulate lattice QCD with an irrelevant chiral 4-fermion interaction which allows us to simulate at zero quark mass. This enables us to study the finite-temperature chiral-symmetry-restoring phase transition for 2 massless quark flavours, which is believed to be second order. In particular, it enables us to estimate the critical exponents which characterize the universality class of this transition. Our earlier simulations on $N_t=4$ and $N_t=6$ lattices revealed that finite lattice-spacing artifacts on such coarse lattices affect the nature of the transition. We are now simulating on $N_t=8$ lattices ($12^3 \times 8$, $16^3 \times 8$ and $24^3 \times 8$ lattices) where we expect to expose the continuum behaviour of this transition.

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arXiv2004

The finite temperature transition for 3-flavour lattice QCD at finite isospin density

We simulate 3-flavour lattice QCD with a small chemical potential $μ_I$ for isospin, at temperatures close to the finite temperature transition. Using quark masses just above the critical mass for zero chemical potential, we determine the position of the transition from hadronic matter to a quark-gluon plasma as a function of $μ_I$. We see evidence for a critical endpoint where the transition changes from a crossover to a first-order transition as $μ_I$ is increased. We argue that QCD at finite $μ_I$ and QCD at finite quark-numberchemical potential $μ$ should behave similarly in this region.

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arXiv2004

The finite temperature transition for 2-flavour lattice QCD at finite isospin density

We simulate 2-flavour lattice QCD at finite isospin chemical potential mu_I, for temperatures close to the finite temperature transition from hadronic matter to a quark-gluon plasma. The mu_I dependence of the transition coupling is observed and used to estimate the decrease in the transition temperature with increasing mu_I. These simulations are performed on an 8^3 times 4 lattice at 3 different quark masses. Our estimate of the magnitude of the fluctuations of the phase of the fermion determinant at small quark-number chemical potential mu, suggest that the position of the small mu and small mu_I transitions should be the same for mu_I=2mu, and we argue that the nature of these transitions should be the same. For all mu_I < m_pi the smoothness of these transitions and the values of the Binder cumulant B_4, indicate that these transitions are mere crossovers, and show no sign of the expected critical endpoint. For mu_I > m_pi and a small isospin (I_3) breaking term lambda, we do find evidence of a critical endpoint which would indicate that, for lambda=0, there is a tricritical point on the phase boundary where the pion condensate evaporates, where this phase transition changes from second to first order.

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arXiv2004

Non-Compact QED_3 with N_f=1 and N_f=4

We present numerical results for non-compact three-dimensional QED for numbers of flavors N_f=1 and N_f=4.In particular, we address the issue of whether chiral symmetry is spontaneously broken in the continuum limit, and obtain a positive answer for N_f=1, with a dimensionless condensate estimated to be beta^2 ~= O(10^-3), implying that the critical number of flavors N_fc>1. We also compare the N_f=1 and N_f=4 models by analysing the transition from strong to weak coupling behaviour using an equation of state based on a continuous phase transition. While some qualitative differences emerge, it appears difficult to determine whether N_f=4 lies above or below N_fc.

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arXiv2003

Finite Density Lattice Gauge Theories with Positive Fermion Determinants

We perform simulations of (3-colour) QCD with 2 quark flavours at a finite chemical potential $μ_I$ for isospin($I_3$), and of 2-colour QCD at a finite chemical potential $μ$ for quark number. At zero temperature, QCD at finite $μ_I$ has a mean-field phase transition at $μ_I=m_π$ to a superfluid state with a charged pion condensate which spontaneously breaks $I_3$. We study the finite temperature transition as a function of $μ_I$. For $μ_I < m_π$, where this is closely related to the transition at finite $μ$, this appears to be a crossover independent of quark mass, with no sign of the proposed critical endpoint. For $μ_I > m_π$ this becomes a true phase transition where the pion condensate evaporates. For $μ_I$ just above $m_π$ the transition seems to be second order, while for larger $μ_I$ it appears to become first order. At zero temperature, 2-colour QCD also possesses a superfluid state with a diquark condensate. We study its spectrum of Goldstone and pseudo-Goldstone bosons associated with chiral and quark-number symmetry breaking.

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